A St. Petersburg woman has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child after a nine-month-old boy died in her care at an unlicensed daycare, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. The woman, identified as 31-year-old Desiree Rentz, was also charged with misrepresentation of a childcare license resulting in death, as first reported by WFLA.
The incident, which occurred today, led to the discovery that Rentz was operating the daycare with over a dozen children in a single one-bedroom apartment on Lynn Lake Drive South. An autopsy later confirmed that the infant, Timothy David Smith, was given cough syrup that is not recommended for children under the age of four. This medication was administered without the knowledge or consent of the boy's parents, as uncovered by Tampa Bay Times.
The investigation also revealed that Rentz misrepresented herself to parents as a licensed daycare operator. The licensing she displayed on her wall were, in fact, for temporary foster care with a capacity for only one child. This information was confirmed by both the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families and reported by WTSP.
Following the arrest, Rentz's bail was set at $175,000, and she is currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail. The case has brought to light the critical importance of verifying childcare providers' credentials, a safety measure essential to preventing tragedies such as the death of Timothy David Smith. As reported by local authorities, the investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated to the public in a timely manner.
